Sheffield Eagles pair meet Aston’s demands

SHEFFIELD Eagles’ coach Mark Aston has moved closer to finding the answer to his first choice half-back partnership.

Dominic Brambani and new signing Patch Walker resumed their link up for the big win over York City Knights.

In the previous two games Aston has left Walker in the stands for a ‘tutorial’ on the Eagles style and then gave the former Dewsbury playmaker a run out from the subs’ bench.

The pair played through the 46-14 win over York and look set to start in the top six clash at Leigh Centurions on Friday night.

Aston said: “It did work, they played together. Dom was able to relax a bit more and be a bit more composed. At times he gets frustrated and loses his composure and that game will do him good.

“Patch is cool as a cucumber. He needs to show that bit more authority and slap people down a bit more but he’s getting there and he injects something to the play. He’s got a great kicking game.

“In York we were up against one of the best kickers in the competition in Simon Brown and our kicking game was better.”

Leigh will provide a test of the Eagles credentials for defending the Championship title. In the Eagles only other game against a top six team they lost at Halifax.

The Centurions have made a strong start to the season and are only a point behind the Eagles following a 46-16 win at Keighley Courgars.

Aston had the players in for an extra training session on Sunday. He’s hopeful of having a full squad available for the trip to the Sports Village with winger Scott Turner making good progress following an ankle injury.

Captain and prop forward Jack Howieson has a slight knee strain and was rested against York but is expected to be available.